Women Fight Hair Loss With the Help of Dermotologists

For many, unexplained hair loss can take a significant psychological toll on their overall quality of life. From altering their hairstyle to hide a thinning part to scaling back their hair care regimen in an effort to halt further hair loss, we try countless ways to cover up this problem — and the results are often lukewarm at best. A better option is to see a dermatologist, a physician trained in the care of skin, hair and nails, who can diagnose and, in many cases, successfully treat hair loss in women.

Female-Pattern Hair Loss: Highly Common, Highly Treatable

The most common form of hair loss in women is female-pattern loss, which usually has a strong genetic component that can be inherited from either the mother or father. Also referred to as androgenetic alopecia, this type can start as early as the late teens — and the earlier it starts, the more severe the hair loss tends to be.

Hyperandrogenism: Getting to the Root of this Medical Condition

Hyperandrogenism, a medical condition characterized by excessive production of male hormones (androgens), also can cause hair loss in affected women. The most common cause of hyperandrogenism in women is functional ovarian hyperandrogenism, also known as polycystic ovary syndrome. In addition other signs of this female endocrine disorder include obesity, acne and irregular menstruation, and it is one of the most common causes of infertility.

Cicatricial Alopecia: Preventing Further Hair Loss is Key

Also known as scarring alopecia, cicatricial alopecia is a form of hair loss marked by scarring of the scalp where the source of the hair follicle is destroyed. Unlike other forms of hair loss, cicatricial alopecia results in scattered patches and is usually associated with redness and irritation on the scalp. While there is no known pattern for why this type of loss affects some women, it often occurs when patients have either lupus, an immune system disorder, or lichen planus, an inflammatory skin disease.

“Hair loss is an important concern for a large number of women, and ongoing research in this area will continue to produce effective treatments,” said dermatologist Dr. Mary Gail Mercurio. “Some of the new laser and light-based therapies used for hair loss show promise in preliminary studies. We hope that these technologies will allow dermatologists to further expand our treatment options for all forms of hair loss in the future.”